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More and more consumers are reaching for the anti-bacterial soaps and cleaning products, but are they really necessary? According to Reader's Digest Magazine, the answer is no. The article walks through three important questions and answers about antibacterial products. For instance:

Are hand sanitizers as good as soap and water?
Almost. Alcohol-based antibacterial gels and towelettes are a proven, germ-fighting alternative for ridding your hands of bacteria and viruses when soap and water aren’t available. In one study of 292 Boston-area families with young children, those who used hand sanitizers for 5 months cut the spread of gastrointestinal infections by 59 percent. In another study, families who washed up with hand gels about five times a day cut the risk for colds by 20 percent, compared to families who scrubbed less often.

Full story at Shine from Yahoo!.

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